Protests by thousands of people against the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference in late November and early December of 1999 brought police out in force; hundreds were arrested, and clouds of tear gas floated in front of businesses as delegates and officials attending the conference fought to gain access to their own meetings. less

Protests by thousands of people against the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference in late November and early December of 1999 brought police out in force; hundreds were arrested, and clouds of tear ... more

Photo: Paul Joseph Brown, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Image 3 of 9

Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell was caught up in a pretty crazy failure (of security) in 2001 when James C. Garrett, a Seattle activist, struck the mayor in the face with a bullhorn while the mayor was speaking at a community festival. Garrett, who goes by the name Omari Tahir-Garrett, had been arrested after what police said was an unprovoked attack on Schell. Garrett’s blow with the bullhorn knocked the mayor to the ground, police said. Schell suffered facial fractures and was hospitalized overnight. Garrett was found guilty in 2002 in a second trial over the assault. He responded to the verdict by maintaining his innocence and accusing police of lying. less

Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell was caught up in a pretty crazy failure (of security) in 2001 when James C. Garrett, a Seattle activist, struck the mayor in the face with a bullhorn while the mayor was ... more

Image 4 of 9

Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell was caught up in a pretty crazy failure (of security) in 2001 when James C. Garrett, a Seattle activist, struck the mayor in the face with a bullhorn while the mayor was speaking at a community festival. Garrett, who goes by the name Omari Tahir-Garrett, had been arrested after what police said was an unprovoked attack on Schell. Garrett’s blow with the bullhorn knocked the mayor to the ground, police said. Schell suffered facial fractures and was hospitalized overnight. Garrett was found guilty in 2002 in a second trial over the assault. He responded to the verdict by maintaining his innocence and accusing police of lying. less

Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell was caught up in a pretty crazy failure (of security) in 2001 when James C. Garrett, a Seattle activist, struck the mayor in the face with a bullhorn while the mayor was ... more

Photo: Dale Hodges / Dale Hodges

Image 5 of 9

Image 6 of 9

During a lull in an October 1998 ribbon cutting ceremony for a new First Avenue South Bridge, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell jumps over a barrier onto the unfinished bike path of the bridge.

During a lull in an October 1998 ribbon cutting ceremony for a new First Avenue South Bridge, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell jumps over a barrier onto the unfinished bike path of the bridge.

Image 7 of 9

Police officers on motorcycles follow a parade of demonstrators along Denny Way on Dec. 2, 1999. The police escorted the group, accommodating them in whichever direction they chose to go. (Photo by Dan DeLong)

Police officers on motorcycles follow a parade of demonstrators along Denny Way on Dec. 2, 1999. The police escorted the group, accommodating them in whichever direction they chose to go. (Photo by Dan DeLong)

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer / Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Image 8 of 9

Many will remember him for the WTO riots and the Mardi Gras melee, but outgoing Mayor Paul Schell pointed to the $464 million that the voters of Seattle agreed to pay for new parks, libraries and community centers during his tenure. less

Many will remember him for the WTO riots and the Mardi Gras melee, but outgoing Mayor Paul Schell pointed to the $464 million that the voters of Seattle agreed to pay for new parks, libraries and community ... more

Schell’s time in the mayor’s seat is probably most known for the WTO protests and riots and aggressive police response in 1999 that went on for days and then ended up in the courts. Then there was the time he was stuck by a bullhorn and also the Mardi Gras melee in 2001 that left one man dead.

We wrote in 2007 during the class-action lawsuit that accused the city of violating protesters’ rights during the World Trade Organization’s conference in Seattle …

The ex-mayor, whose bid for re-election ended in the primary two years later, has taken much of the criticism for what happened during the conference. Thousands of protesters overwhelmed police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Schell acknowledged that things got “messy,” but he said his goal was to protect the citizens while at the same time allowing protesters to express their views.

“I’ve never been embarrassed about what happened,” he said. “I felt it was an exercise, sort of, in citizen democracy. …. People have the right to speak their mind in this town.”

The city lost the class-action suit. “Free-speech rights weren’t violated, but the blanket arrest of 147 people seven years ago in downtown Seattle during the World Trade Organization tumult was still unconstitutional — and the city should be held liable, a federal jury decided” in 2007, we wrote then. The court loss would eventually cost the city more than $1 million.

For all the perceptions that have arisen around him — a downtown developer, a rich guy with a resort on Whidbey Island — outgoing Seattle Mayor Paul Schell remains the son of a minister and a child of the 1960s.

As a young man, he was heavily influenced by President Kennedy’s “Ask what you can do for your country” speech. And his most important goal as mayor, he said, was to inspire people to help make the city a better place.

It sounds idealistic now, just as it did shortly after he was elected to the four-year term that ends Monday. He recalls telling a reporter that he even wanted people to donate their cash to the city. The reporter rolled her eyes, and Schell wondered, “Have we really gotten that cynical?”

In a recent interview, reflecting on the office he is about to leave, Schell, 64, said, “Engaging people to be part of the solution was the basic message of what I was about. That is the key to building a great city.”

But there was also the Mardi Gras of 2001, as we reported, “infamous for the numerous sexual assaults, fights and property damage committed. One man, Kristopher Kime, died after he was struck while trying to help a woman being beaten by a crowd. His family eventually settled a lawsuit with the city for $1.7 million, and a plaque in his honor was erected in Pioneer Square.”

Former Seattle Councilwoman Judy Nicastro, who tangled with Schell often, told the PI as Schell left office, that he had an extraordinary record in taking civic projects to the ballot and making them a success. During Schell’s tenure, the city passed three major bond measures, we reported then, approving nearly half a billion dollars for new neighborhood libraries, community centers, parks and trails.

“He actually did a lot of good stuff,” Nicastro told the PI, but added that the public may not forgive him for his failures. “WTO and Mardi Gras are scorched in people’s memory.”

It is with great sadness that Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announces the passing of Seattle’s 50th mayor, Paul Schell, who served from 1998-2002. Schell died this morning surrounded by family and friends at Swedish Hospital. He was 76 years old.

Schell will be remembered as one of the great city builders of the Pacific Northwest. As a citizen activist, lawyer, director of community development, port commissioner, dean of architecture and mayor he directly shaped the civic infrastructure of Seattle for more than 40 years.

Schell’s greatest professional accomplishment has been the infrastructure that he built and influenced. The first Libraries for All campaign was a brainchild of Schell’s, establishing and building a new downtown library and rebuilding branches throughout the city. He led the effort to fund Seattle’s first parks levy, rebuild the opera house and was instrumental in building the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle’s City Hall and Justice Center.

During his time as mayor, Schell helped develop Seattle’s 37 neighborhood plans, laying the foundation for the strong neighborhood system that is seen today. Schell was not only committed to the infrastructure, but also to the people of Seattle. He worked tirelessly to increase service for Seattle’s homeless and immigrant communities, bringing them much-needed services.

“Paul will be greatly missed. He was truly committed to the people of Seattle, working to improve the city both as an elected official and private citizen. He was dedicated to the lives of the people of this city, evidenced by his countless contributions and the legacy he built here,” said Murray.

“Paul fell in love with Seattle when he moved here, as a lot of us then younger people did, then as a civic leader and a mayor he went about making this city even a better place. In a relatively brief time in office, he made a huge and lasting difference in our city,” said former mayor and friend Charlie Royer.

Schell is survived by Pam, his wife of 51 years, and daughter, Jamie. The Schell’s have been patrons of the arts in Seattle and Whidbey Island, supporting institutions like the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Additional information on remembrance services will be provided in the days to come. Schell’s family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.